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Chicago, IL – NAVTEQ on Wednesday, Dec 12, announced that its stockholders have approved the previously announced merger agreement entered into with Nokia at the special meeting of stockholders held earlier today.

Over 75% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock eligible to vote, representing over 99% of the total votes cast at the special meeting, were voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement.

Adoption of the merger agreement by NAVTEQ stockholders satisfies one of the conditions to completion of the merger between NAVTEQ and Nokia. Completion of the merger is also subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of the other closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement. More at Navteq.

LONDON — Dec 12, ‘07 — Microsoft has acquired Multimap, one of the United Kingdom’s top 100 technology companies and one of the leading online mapping services in the world.

The acquisition gives Microsoft a powerful new location and mapping technology to complement existing offerings such as Virtual Earth, Live Search, Windows Live services, MSN and the aQuantive advertising platform, with future integration potential for a range of other Microsoft products and platforms. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, as part of the Virtual Earth and Search teams in the Online Services Group. The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves as Microsoft seeks to expand its online services to deliver software, services, and premium content and applications to consumers and businesses.More at Microsoft.

Dec 05, ‘07 — Today, Google announced the release of a new iPhone application that integrates its multiple services into a single interface, making it easy for iPhone users to find, use and switch between Google search, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, and more.

To use the application, iPhone users simply point their web browser to Google.com.

To accomplish this, Google is taking advantage of browser technologies (like AJAX) that made Gmail and Google Maps possible on the desktop. In supporting these advances in web technology, the iPhone’s Safari browser not only delivers an excellent mobile Internet experience; it enabled our product and engineering teams to create an optimal Google experience on a mobile device.

Google’s overall goal is to provide users with access to information, wherever they are. This commitment is device-independent, and we are working to develop new mobile technologies that are faster, easier to use, and available on more devices.

A recent example is My Location, a Google Maps for mobile feature that shows users their location directly on the map with or without GPS. To see the full range of mobile products and services available from Google, visit mobile.google.com.

More at Google, Google Mobile.

Houston — Dec 05, ‘07 — On August 07, 2008, after 20 years of hype, disappointment, blunders, triumphs and peerless glittering vistas of space and time, and four years after NASA decided to leave the Hubble Space Telescope to die in orbit, setting off public and Congressional outrage, a group of astronauts will ride to the telescope aboard the space shuttle Atlantis with wrenches in hand. Says NYTimes.

That, at least, is the plan.

Servicing Mission 4
NASA managers officially are targeting August 7, 2008, for the launch of the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day flight, Atlantis’ seven astronauts will repair and improve the observatory’s capabilities through 2013.

Mission planners have been working since last fall, when the flight was announced, to determine the best time in the shuttle manifest to support the needs of Hubble while minimizing the impact to International Space Station assembly. NASA also will support a “launch on need” flight during the Hubble mission. In the unlikely event a rescue flight becomes necessary, shuttle Endeavour currently is planned to lift off from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla. However, managers constantly are evaluating the manifest to determine the best mission options.

Shuttle missions beyond the Hubble flight, designated STS-125, still are being assessed. Shuttle and station program officials will continue to consider options for the remainder of the shuttle flights to complete construction of the space station by 2010, when the fleet will be retired. Those target launch dates are subject to change.

More at NASA, NYTimes.

Amsterdam — December 05, ‘07 — Today, TomTom, the world’s largest navigation solutions provider, announced it is teaming up with Google Maps so users can search for and send business addresses directly from the Google Maps’ website to TomTom devices. This results in a richer and more personalised navigation experience.

“The ability to search, find and send information from the web to a TomTom is something we have been investing in for some time now. We are pleased to work together with Google Maps on this personalization functionality,” says Eric Pité, Vice President Product Management at TomTom.

How does it work?

Google Maps local search pages have expanded their ‘Send to’ feature with the option ‘Send to GPS’. With just one mouse click TomTom users can instantly benefit from this service without needing to download complicated zip files.

Google Maps allows TomTom users to search for business addresses and transfer them from the Google Maps website to their TomTom device by clicking on the ‘Send to GPS’ button.

The selected information is transferred to the TomTom device when the device is connected to the Internet via TomTom HOME, the free software application TomTom offers its customers. Drivers can then navigate to their new destination, as well as view the location on the map of the TomTom device or save it as a ‘favorite’ on the device for later use.

The tie-up would for instance allow TomTom users to plan a city trip by searching for accommodation, restaurants or museums using Google Maps on their computer and then transfer the places they want to visit to their TomTom device.

TomTom’s devices do include so-called “points of interest” — such as restaurants, petrol stations and parking garages — but if a user has not regularly bought map upgrades, such data can become out of date.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Nov 30, ‘07 — EU governments agreed Friday to jointly complete the development of the much-delayed Galileo satellite navigation project after mollifying Spain, which had demanded a bigger stake in the venture, the AP reported.

Spain was the lone holdout in a 26-1 vote at an EU meeting on moving ahead with the $5 billion undertaking.

In seeking unanimity, the EU later won Spain’s approval with a deal that said a secondary ground station - planned for Spain to monitor emergency services on Galileo channels - may one day be a full-blown ground control station if Spain pays for that upgrade.

The European Commission set a Dec. 31 deadline for final approval of the satellite program. When completed, by 2013, it is expected to rival the American global positioning system, which also is satellite-based.

On Nov 23, EU governments agreed to a taxpayer bailout for the project, several months after a consortium of private companies walked away from it in a financing dispute. Most of the €2.4 billion ($3.56 billion) needed to complete the project will come from unspent funds originally earmarked for agriculture

Brussels — Nov 28, ‘07 — The European Commission has opened a detailed investigation under the EU merger regulation into TomTom’s proposed acquisition of Tele Atlas, both of The Netherlands.

TomTom produces portable navigation devices (PNDs) and Tele Atlas is one of two producers of navigable digital maps, a crucial input for PND manufacturers.

The Commission’s initial market investigation has indicated that the proposed merger raises serious doubts with regards to vertical competition concerns. A decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation. The Commission now has until 17 April 2008 to take a final decision on whether the proposed transaction would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a significant part of it.

Tom Tom is active in navigation software and manufacturing of PNDs and is the market leader in the EEA. Tele Atlas is one of only two producers of navigable digital maps offering a complete coverage of Europe and North America (the other being U.S firm Navteq).

After a preliminary review, the Commission has identified serious doubts that the acquisition by TomTom of Tele Atlas might, in the light of the duopoly market for navigable digital maps and TomTom’s strong position on the market for PNDs, lead to a significant impediment of effective competition within the EEA.

Navigable digital maps are essential inputs for producers of PNDs. The proposed acquisition raises vertical competition concerns because TomTom acquires one of the current two map suppliers that provide maps for the whole of Europe. The Commission’s in-depth investigation will focus, inter alia, on assessing whether the transaction would increase the costs of other PND manufacturers for navigable digital map or limit their access to these maps, and as a consequence harm consumers. More at European Commission.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Nov 23, ‘07 — The European Union’s troubled Galileo satellite navigation system will be financed from leftover EU funds, EU ministers decided Friday, after Germany and three other countries that had opposed the arrangement relented.

Most of the €2.4 billion ($3.56 billion) the EU says is needed to complete the project will come from unspent funds originally earmarked for agriculture, officials said. Some €300 million (US$445 million) was also earmarked to launch the EU’s new technology and innovation institute, meant to rival the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The decision means Galileo — which nearly folded after a consortium of private companies tasked with developing it failed to make progress — will be completed. It is to give Europe its own satellite navigation, ending its dependency on the U.S.-run Global Positioning System.

Germany got on board after the EU’s executive Commission proposed new tender rules meant to ensure the multibillion-euro project is not dominated by a single company.

In Berlin, a German Transport Ministry spokesman welcomed the Commission proposal, saying it would secure competition and could lead to benefits for German companies.

A source close to EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the project segments would include satellites, launchers, ground mission infrastructure and control, system software, and other tasks.

There would be the possibility of two tenders to build 26 satellites that make up the system, which is expected to have 30 satellites in total. “The bidder will have to put an offer for all 26, but then we will contract only for a first batch of 10, for example,” the source said.

AMSTERDAM, Netherland – Nov 18, ’07 – Two days after Garmin dropped its effort to buy Tele Atlas NV, TomTom NV said it would begin an offer of $43.88 a share for the digital-mapping company.

The other global map maker, Navteq, has agreed to be acquired by cell phone manufacturer Nokia Oyj for $8.1 billion.

The period in which Tele Atlas shareholders can tender their shares will begin on Nov. 19 and end on Dec. 18, the companies said in a joint statement on Sunday.

Tele Atlas will hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting on Dec. 7 to discuss the offer.

TomTom Press Release:

“With reference to the press release of 7 November 2007, TomTom NV and Tele Atlas NV hereby jointly announce that TomTom is making a recommended public cash offer for all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.10 each in the capital of Tele Atlas.

Highlights
- The Offer is a cash offer for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Tele Atlas of EUR 30.00 per Share.
- The acceptance period commences at 9:00 hours, Amsterdam time (3:00 hours New York time) on 19 November 2007 and will end at 15:00 hours Amsterdam time (9:00 hours New York time) on 18 December 2007, unless extended.
- Tele Atlas will convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held on 7 December 2007 during which the Offer will be discussed.
- The Boards fully support the Offer and recommend the Offer to all Shareholders for acceptance.
- A condition to the Offer is that the number of Shares tendered for acceptance under the Offer, together with the Shares that are held at that time by the Offeror, represents at least 80 per cent. of all issued and outstanding Shares as set out in the Offer Memorandum.

The Offer
TomTom is making the Offer, subject to the terms and restrictions contained in the offer memorandum dated 18 November 2007.

Shareholders tendering their Shares under the Offer will be paid, under the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Memorandum, in consideration of each Share validly tendered and delivered (geleverd) a cash amount of EUR 30.00.”

More at TomTom, Tele Atlas.

Cayman Islands — PR Newswire — Nov 16, ‘07 — Garmin Ltd. announced today that its subsidiaries, Garmin International Inc and Garmin Corporation, have signed a six-year extension to their agreement with NAVTEQ, a leading provider of digital map data for location based solutions and vehicle navigation.

The agreement allows Garmin to continue using NAVTEQ data through 2015, with an option to renew for an additional four-year period. In addition, the parties have agreed to pursue expanded points of cooperation that will result in improved mapping quality and coverage worldwide, and will drive further device innovation into the future. The parties did not disclose specific details of the agreement.

“Garmin has partnered with NAVTEQ for many years. We utilize their map data in the majority of our products and we have always appreciated their commitment to the market,” said Garmin CEO Dr. Min Kao. “Extending our agreement with NAVTEQ ensures the availability of quality mapping data for our customers, and provides a basis for enhanced cooperation which is a win-win for both Garmin and NAVTEQ. We believe the outcome creates the best value for Garmin, our customers, and stakeholders.”

In addition and with reference to the press release dated October 31, 2007, Garmin also announced today that in light of these developments it does not intend to pursue its offer for Tele Atlas N.V.

Garmin is a leading, worldwide provider of navigation, communications and information devices with subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil and Singapore with pending acquisitions in Denmark, Italy and Spain. More at Garmin.

Garmin and TomTom have settled their intellectual property suits that were pending in the U.S., UK and the Netherlands. The settlement may enable both firms to divert more resources and attention on another battle: fighting for the right to acquire Tele Atlas, a digital map publisher.

CAYMAN ISLANDS/November 15, 2007/PR Newswire - Garmin Ltd. announces today a confidential global settlement of all of its intellectual property litigation with TomTom.  The settlement resolves all of the pending intellectual property litigation including cases in the UK, Netherlands, Wisconsin, and Texas. The parties did not disclose details of their agreement.

Garmin, based in the Cayman Islands but with operational headquarters in Olathe, Kan., makes products that use global positioning system data and leads the market for navigation devices in the U.S.

TomTom, based in Amsterdam, is the European leader in similar devices.

Garmin sued TomTom in federal courts in Wisconsin and Texas, claiming it infringed on Garmin patents. And Garmin asked courts in the Netherlands and United Kingdom to invalidate registered designs and patents claimed by TomTom.

TomTom countersued in Wisconsin, claiming Garmin infringed on three patents TomTom bought from Horizon Navigation Inc., based in Santa Clara, Calif., which makes in-vehicle navigation devices.

A year ago, Garmin won the first round when a court in The Hague, Netherlands, refused TomTom’s request for a preliminary injunction against Garmin for allegedly copying a European registered design it owned.

The lawsuits were seen as an ill-time distraction for both companies. They come at a time when the GPS market is growing rapidly and reaching critical mass in many developed markets.

Earlier this year, Garmin overtook TomTom for the global market share lead in delivering GPS systems, shipping 1.85 million units in the second quarter, a 25 percent global market share, according to research firm Canalys.

TomTom was close behind, with 1.81 million GPS systems shipped, a market share of 24 percent. Those two were far ahead of the rest of the pack, with the top five rounded out by Mio Technology, Magellan and Navman. In Europe, TomTom has 30 percent of the market and Garmin about 17 percent. Garmin has long led in the U.S. with more than 50 percent market share.

Tele Atlas is the last remaining independent publisher of the digital maps that power GPS systems following Nokia’s purchase last month of Navteq in a deal worth $8.1 billion. More at Garmin.

OLATHE, Kan – Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Garmin today introduced a new line of big-screen multi-function displays (MFDs), designed for use in larger yachts and powerboats — the GPSMAP(R) 5X15 series and the GPSMAP 4X10 series.

The GPSMAP 5X15 series has a whopping 15-inch diagonal XGA (1024 x 768 pixel) sunlight readable touchscreen display. The touchscreen makes navigating menus a snap because the “virtual buttons” change depending on the function — and it also eliminates the need for “hard” buttons, a valuable space saver. Garmin offers two models — the GPSMAP 5015 with an enhanced worldwide satellite imagery basemap; and the GPSMAP 5215, which comes pre-loaded with highly detailed U.S. coastal charts and Explorer Charts for the Bahamas.

The GPSMAP 4X10 features a 10.4-inch diagonal SVGA (800 x 600 pixel) sunlight readable display with a conventional alphanumeric keypad and a row of soft keys for easy data input. Within this family, Garmin offers the GPSMAP 4010, with an enhanced worldwide satellite imagery basemap to enhance the standard vector chart format; and the GPSMAP 4210, which comes pre-loaded with highly detailed U.S. coastal charts and Explorer Charts for the Bahamas.

All of the new units are fully network compatible with the Garmin Marine Network, a system that combines GPS, radar, autopilot, XM WX Satellite Weather, sonar, and other sensors for unparalleled situational awareness.

For even greater capabilities, boaters can load the new MFDs with BlueChart(R) g2 Vision technology — conveniently available on a
pre-programmed SD card. In addition to high-res satellite imagery, g2 Vision features true “mariner’s eye view” above water or a “fish eye”
underwater perspective — both in three dimensions. The GPSMAP 5X15 and GPSMAP 4X10 family of MFDs will be available in March 2008. More at Garmin.

AMSTERDAM, Nov o7, ‘07 – TomTom, the world’s biggest maker of navigation devices, raised its offer for TeleAtlas, the mapping company, by 41 per cent on Wednesday and bought 28 per cent of the target’s shares in a bid to see off a challenge from US rival Garmin.

Garmin sparked a bidding war for Tele Atlas last week with an unsolicited €2.1bn bid that trumped TomTom’s initial offer. The Dutch company raised its cash offer for TeleAtlas to €30 a share, valuing TomTom at about €2.9bn.

“We are now well positioned to buy Tele Atlas”, said Harold Goddijn, chief executive of TomTom. “We are now their biggest customer and their biggest shareholder.”

The bidding war for Tele Atlas comes at a time of consolidation in the digital mapping industry. Tele Atlas, like TomTom based in the Netherlands, is one of only two large global providers of digital maps. Navteq, its competitor, was bought by Nokia for $8.1bn in September.

Tele Atlas shares rose 18 per cent to €31.80, above the offer price, signalling investors believed Garmin may raise its offer. TomTom shares fell 1 per cent to €56.

Garmin and TomTom both want to own a mapping company to keep down the cost of maps and develop new products. Sales of navigation devices are set to double this year from 16m in 2006.

“The whole navigation and mapping industry is still relatively young.” Mr Goddijn said. “This is not the endgame but I think it’s an important transition phase in the industry.”

Santa Ana, CA–BUSINESS WIRE– V7, the exclusive house brand for Ingram Micro Inc, and the maker of world class IT and CE global solutions, today launched two advanced functionality Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs), redefining value and utility for GPS customers.

The NAV730 and NAV740 GPS PNDs are targeted at value-conscious GPS consumers and commercial fleets. Both are portable navigation devices featuring V7 Navigation Software with turn-by-turn, text-to-speech capabilities that allow users to see and hear where they are and how to get to their destination.

The NAV730 and NAV740 come with many features typically available only in higher-end priced models, including a 3.5-inch 320×240 TFT-LCD high resolution display (NAV730) or 4.3-inch 480×272 TFT-LCD high resolution display (NAV740). Both models are touch-screen enabled with an easy-to-use, intuitive graphical user interface and turn-by-turn voice instruction including text-to-speech. Featuring an attractive, lightweight and slim (only 19.8mm thin) design, the NAV730 and NAV740 can easily slip into your pocket, making them truly portable navigation devices.

The new V7 NAV730 and NAV740 feature 400MHz CPUs for faster map redraws and enhanced AV capabilities, SD card technology for expandable storage, preloaded maps, and a built-in high performance multimedia (audio and video) player that supports the most popular audio, video, and digital picture formats (MP3, WMA, OGG, MPEG4, AVI, WMV, GIF, JPG, TIFF). Easy-to-install mounting hardware and auto adapters are included as standard products. Both units carry a two-year warranty. Suggested retail price is $199 for the NAV730 and $299 for the NAV740. More at V7 – NAV740, NAV730.

Consumers can shape and share ideas in 3-D in Virtual Earth. REDMOND, Wash., and PARIS — Oct. 18, 2007 — Dassault Systèmes (DS), a world leader in 3-D and product life-cycle management (PLM) solutions, and Microsoft Corp. today launched Microsoft^® Virtual Earth™ -3DVIA (Technology Preview). This free online application, developed by Dassault Systèmes, allows consumers to imagine and create realistic 3-D models — such as of buildings and structures — then share them through Microsoft Virtual Earth and online communities.“Virtual Earth -3DVIA users will be able to build a world that mixes their future projects and ideas with real-life places, buildings and structures,” said Lynne Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of 3DVIA at Dassault Systèmes. “Through Microsoft’s online geographic location mapping technology and our 3-D modeling and realistic visualization know-how, we have created a new level of realism within Virtual Earth that provides an unrestricted freedom for creativity and innovation.”

Users can download Virtual Earth -3DVIA for free and immediately begin using the fun, easy-to-use and intuitive application. Virtual Earth -3DVIA allows anyone to do the following with their ideas:

– Create. With just a few clicks, users can easily design a 3-D model of their house, favorite building or any structure, then select from different visualization options, textures and colors to give their 3-D model a style of its own.
– Publish. Users can upload their 3-D models to Virtual Earth, specifying an address or neighborhood so they can experience the model within a real-life context.
– Share. Users can add their 3-D model to collections, and share it with friends and colleagues through Web communities.

“Our alliance with Dassault Systèmes, a company that has 26 years of technology experience in 3-D modeling, will help us bring a new level of realism to Virtual Earth,” said Stephen Lawler, general manager of Virtual Earth at Microsoft. “Microsoft is committed to delivering the highest-quality product for our Virtual Earth customers, and this enhancement is another step toward fulfilling that commitment.”

Virtual Earth -3DVIA is being released as a technology preview to allow community feedback before the next release of the product. More information about Virtual Earth -3DVIA is available online at http://maps.live.com/Help/en-us/VE3DVIADownload.htm.

About Virtual Earth

The Virtual Earth platform is Microsoft’s next-generation integrated set of powerful online mapping and search services that offer a variety of capabilities, including unique bird’s- eye view, three-dimensional imagery, and aerial and satellite imagery. The Virtual Earth platform also powers a variety of consumer, enterprise and government applications that enable people to discover and explore a specific location. Virtual Earth powers Live Search Maps, Microsoft’s online local search and mapping Web site. More information about the Virtual Earth platform is available at http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/default.mspx.

About 3DVIA

3DVIA is Dassault Systèmes’ brand for online 3D lifelike experiences. It establishes 3D as a universal media for consumer and professional communities, and allows anyone to imagine, play, and experience products and services used in our daily lives. Once perfected in the virtual world, these can be delivered in the physical world. The Virtools product line is part of 3DVIA. For more information about 3DVIA, go to: www.3dvia.com.

Image-Enabled Oracle Applications with DigitalGlobe Geospatial Data Help End-Users Make Faster, Better-Informed Decisions. LONGMONT, Colo., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ – DigitalGlobe, the provider of the world’s highest-resolution imagery and geospatial information products, today announced that Oracle and DigitalGlobe will offer satellite imagery to Oracle Database 11g customers. Sample imagery of the city of San Francisco is now available and is downloadable through the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) at here.

“In today’s global business environment, we are seeing a dramatic increase in demand for Earth imagery and spatial technology in business
applications,” said James Steiner, senior director, server technologies, Oracle. “Our relationship with DigitalGlobe will enable our end-users to
incorporate spatial data and positional information from the world’s highest-resolution satellite and aerial imagery into mission-critical
applications and decision support systems used by Oracle’s customers in commercial, public sector and regulated industries.”
Oracle Database 11g delivers the next generation of enterprise information management, helping customers tackle the demands of rapid data
growth, changing environments, and the need to deliver higher quality of services while reducing and controlling IT costs. The location features in Oracle Database 11g and Oracle Spatial 11g enable Oracle to manage all data from traditional business information to XML and 3D spatial information and make it the ideal choice to power transaction processing, data warehousing and content management applications.

Via Oracle Spatial, DigitalGlobe will provide real-time access to its extensive image library for applications such as logistics, supply chain, mobile field services, business intelligence and asset management. With the release of Oracle Database 11g, DigitalGlobe allows advanced access to sample imagery data via OTN enabling Oracle customers to test-drive imagery in their business applications before making a purchase decision.

More at Oracle Technology Network, Digital Globe